I might have my work cut out tomorrow

@JudyEv (346283)
Rockingham, Australia
February 14, 2025 7:30am CST
The photo is of one for the rooms of the dolls’ house I wrote about last discussion. Vince’s sister is the matriarch of the family. She has a heart of gold but can also be very abrupt. She has retired now but was a nurse and is always looking after someone who might be poorly. A week ago, she asked me to help her declutter her junk room. She said she asked me because she knew I wouldn’t try to take over and order her about. So it’s quite a responsibility. I’m not sure how successful we’ll be as I’ve seen that room and it is pretty untidy and cluttered. I’m going over in the morning and no doubt I’ll have something to write about by the time I get home again. I’m taking a couple of plastic crates with me; two books with transparent sleeves in them which might be useful for odd scraps of paper, cuttings and photos and a couple of cardboard boxes. I am a bit concerned that we’ll end up picking things up and putting them down somewhere else. I hope that doesn’t happen.
11 people like this
9 responses
@FourWalls (71430)
• United States
14 Feb
Good luck. I went in my “junk room” to hang clothes to dry and thought, “I really have to work on this room.” I say that every time I go in there. Love the detail in the doll house!
3 people like this
@JudyEv (346283)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Feb
I think we all need a junk room. It can be very handy.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (141581)
• United States
14 Feb
Decluttering someone else's home usually doesn't turn out well unless the person who doesn't live there is in charge. The one who lives there usually says "but I might need that" and keeps everything. At least that's how it has always worked when I went to help someone declutter their home. Good luck!
2 people like this
@JudyEv (346283)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Feb
I know exactly what you're saying but we did make progress. I bought a heap of things home to go to my nearby op shop and she has a heap to take to hers. So it went as well as I expected it to really.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (141581)
• United States
16 Feb
@JudyEv You're very lucky. I have a friend who wanted my help decluttering his laptop. Every time I started to do the work, though, he'd stop me and tell me he needed everything on it. I finally just quit trying to help him with it. *sigh*
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (346283)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Feb
@DaddyEvil Such a situation would be quite hopeless - and very frustrating for you.
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@wolfgirl569 (111641)
• Marion, Ohio
14 Feb
I hope she truly wants to declutter.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (346283)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Feb
She does but she isn't finding it easy. She is over 80 now and really needs to cut down on her 'responsibilities' a little. She does a lot of visiting and caring but she's not getting any younger.
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@wolfgirl569 (111641)
• Marion, Ohio
16 Feb
@JudyEv Glad she is still healthy enough to do that stuff. I like having got rid of stuff but it was harder the first time I went through stuff.
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@JudyEv (346283)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Feb
@wolfgirl569 I'm hoping I can go back so we can do some more together. I think it's helpful to have the support.
1 person likes this
@rakski (132554)
• Philippines
15 Feb
good luck then!!
1 person likes this
@rakski (132554)
• Philippines
16 Feb
@JudyEv hopefully you'll finish it in no time
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (346283)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Feb
It went at least as well as I expected it to. lol I might be able to go back another time and we'll do some more.
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@JudyEv (346283)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Feb
@rakski There are still boxes to go through but she might get some done herself now before I go back again.
1 person likes this
• United States
14 Feb
Decluttering can definitely be a mission of just picking up and putting down somewhere else. I hope you manage to actually declutter and it sounds like you are bringing the perfect things to help with the sorting.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (346283)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Feb
It's still a work in progress but she was happy with what we did and we did make a mark. Hopefully I'll be able to go again in a week or two and we'll be able to do a bit more.
@sallypup (62821)
• Centralia, Washington
14 Feb
That doll house is exquisite. It reminds me of Tasha Tudor.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (346283)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Feb
I'd never heard of this lady but have looked her up now. What an interesting person.
@BarBaraPrz (48534)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
14 Feb
Yeah, I can see it now... You: "Let's toss this" Her: "No, I have plans for that" You: "How about this?" Her: "No, I couldn't possibly part with that." You: "At least let me throw out this used tissue" Her: "Make sure there isn't anything in it..." Good luck and keep your cool.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (346283)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Feb
Haha, you've just about hit the nail on the head. However, it wasn't quite that bad and we did get rid of quite a bit of stuff.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (185250)
• United States
14 Feb
If you are available for decluttering, I will put you to work in my big closet. What's your hourly rate?. Maybe you will find some treasures she will allow you to keep.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (346283)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Feb
I enjoy decluttering really. You do feel good when everything is tidier, neater and not so cramped. I did bring home a few books but they'll be moved on once I've looked through them.
@andriaperry (118262)
• Anniston, Alabama
14 Feb
I've been hired before to help declutter a room or the entire house. However the people were willing to let it all go for the most part.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (346283)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Feb
That's the important part. The person has to be agreeable to letting go of things.
1 person likes this